System and Method for Vehicle-Based Localizing of Offboard Features

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the first pixel location by determining a coordinate position of the first centroid relative to a frame of reference of the first image and a focal length of the imaging device.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the physical location of the feature of interest by calculating a position of intersection between (i) a first line that has the first unit vector and extends through the first reference location and (ii) a second line that has the second unit vector and extends through the second reference location.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the first and second reference locations of the vehicle based at least in part on location data generated by a location determining device disposed onboard the vehicle.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the physical location of the feature of interest to an archival location of the feature of interest stored in a map file, and, responsive to the physical location of the feature of interest being within a designated proximity of the archival location, the controller is further configured to verify the archival location in the map file.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein, responsive to the physical location of the feature of interest being outside of the designated proximity of the archival location, the controller is configured to generate a control signal to one or more of notify an operator of a detected inconsistency or update the archival location of the feature of interest in the map file.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the feature of interest is one or more of a mile post marker, infrastructure equipment, a derail device, a beacon, a landmark, or a sign.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to characterize the physical location of the feature of interest in at least latitude and longitude coordinates.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to identify the feature of interest in the first image and the second image using machine vision and trained object recognition.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining the first pixel location in the first image based on a coordinate position of the first centroid relative to a frame of reference of the first image and a focal length of the imaging device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating the physical location of the feature of interest comprises calculating a position of intersection between a first line defined by the first unit vector and a second line defined by the second unit vector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, responsive to the physical location of the feature of interest being outside of the designated proximity of the archival location, the method includes generating a control signal to one or more of notify an operator of a detected inconsistency or update the archival location of the feature of interest in the map file.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, responsive to the absolute location of the feature of interest being outside of the designated proximity of the archival location, the controller is configured to generate a control signal to one or more of notify an operator of a detected inconsistency or update the archival location of the feature of interest in the map file.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine the reference location of the vehicle based on location data generated by a location determining device disposed onboard the vehicle.